Method and system for selecting from a plurality of configuration profile records for channel bonding operation

ABSTRACT

In DOCSIS 3.0 a greater level of configuration is possible for cable modems than was available in earlier versions. The CMTS potentially receives many possible configurations from a new CM. The standard does not indicate how the CMTS should configure a CM that can support more than one possible configuration. A CMTS&#39; operator specifies preferences for certain channel configurations. The CMTS evaluates the configuration profiles received from a booting CM and determines the best profile to attempt to accommodate based on the specified preferences. The CMTS determines how to instruct the CM to configure itself based on the available channel resources than can accommodate the selected configuration profile.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S.provisional patent application No. 60/982,660 entitled “Downstreamchannel bonding,” which was filed Oct. 25, 2007, and is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The claimed subject matter relates to communications networks, and moreparticularly, to provisioning tables for cable modems.

BACKGROUND

Channel bonding is a technique used to combine the available bandwidthof several Data Over Cable Interface Specification (“DOCSIS”) channelsinto a single larger logical pipe. This development began as themultiple systems operators (“MSOs”), (i.e., cable television companies)saw advantages for their networks in deploying this technology whichallows better theoretical bandwidth usage and allows higher netthroughput to their subscribers. DOCSIS version 3.0 specifies channelbonding methodologies for upstream and downstream links over the hybridfiber coaxial network (“HFC”). These new features allow individualsubscribers to get higher data throughput and provides an improvementfor bandwidth efficiency through the effective aggregation of multipleupstream and downstream channels into a single logical flow.

DOCSIS 3.0 specifies many changes to cable modem termination system(“CMTS”) and cable modem (“CM”) provisioning, particularly with respectto network configuration. MSO personnel assign bonding groups ofchannels manually or automatically within the CMTS, with individualservice flows automatically assigned within the available bondinggroups. A cable modem has been provisioned with multiple configurationprofile records, wherein a record indicates a CM's physicalcapabilities, (e.g., number of channels it can support, and the spacingbetween channels) such as management information base (“MIB”) records.But, a CMTS may not be able to intelligently determine from among theplurality of records it receives when a CM boots up which profile recordto select. Furthermore, a CMTS cannot determine automatically how toconfigure, or allocate, the channels available to support the CM bootingup. Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and system forselecting from among a plurality of CM profile records a profile a CMTSshould use. The art also needs a method for automatically determiningwhich configuration of channels to use in communicating with the CM.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of selecting a profile anda channel bonding configuration to use with a communication device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As a preliminary matter, it will be readily understood by those personsskilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broadutility and application. Many methods, embodiments and adaptations ofthe present invention other than those herein described, as well as manyvariations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be apparentfrom or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the followingdescription thereof, without departing from the substance or scope ofthe present invention.

Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein indetail in relation to preferred embodiments, it is to be understood thatthis disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the presentinvention and is made merely for the purposes of providing a full andenabling disclosure of the invention. The following disclosure is notintended nor is to be construed to limit the present invention orotherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations,variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the presentinvention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and theequivalents thereof.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a flow diagram of amethod 100 of selecting a profile and a channel bonding configuration touse with a communication device, such as a cable modem. Method 100begins at step 105. A manufacturer, typically, provisions a cable modemwith one or more profile records indicating various parameters of setupcapabilities at step 110. The parameters may include number of upstreamchannels, number of downstream channels, spacing between channels,whether all channels should be centered within a predetermined range, orwhether some channels can be spaced so that they do not fall within aparticular range.

At step 115, an MSO's personnel specifies preferences for the variousparameters that a cable modem can typically support. For example, theMSO may specify that more weight should be given to number of channelsused to transmit, or receive, a traffic flow. Or, the MSO may specifythat it prefers to use multiple channels used in channel bondingcentered with a predetermined range, for example 60 MHz. With respect tothe latter example, a first cable modem profile received from a CMbooting up at step 120 may indicate using eight channels spaced within a100 MHz range. A second profile MIB from the same CM may specify usingfour channels, but all within 60 MHz. The CMTS would select the secondprofile at step 125 for use in determining its channel assignment, orconfiguration.

At step 130, the CMTS selects the best configuration it can based on theprofile it selected at step 125, and its available channel resources.Continuing with the example above, the CMTS selects the second profileat step 125 and chooses four channels having center frequencies within60 MHz of each other to assign to the CM that is booting up andrequesting channel assignments at step 120. The CMTS sends a channelassignment message to the booting CM at step 135 instructing it toadjust its tuners and modulators, either for upstream transmit ordownstream receive, according to the configuration selected at step 135.Method 100 ends at step 140.

If the CMTS only has three channels available, it will assign them eventhough the preferred profile MIB selected at step 125 indicates that theCM can communicate using four channels. However, if the CMTS has 8channels it could assign to channel bonding communication with the CM,it will only assign four, because the profile selected at step 125indicates the CM only supports four channel communication where thechannels fall within 60 MHz.

These and many other objects and advantages will be readily apparent toone skilled in the art from the foregoing specification when read inconjunction with the appended drawings. It is to be understood that theembodiments herein illustrated are examples only, and that the scope ofthe invention is to be defined solely by the claims when accorded a fullrange of equivalents.

1. A method for determining channels to use in channel bondingcommunication with a cable modem, comprising: specifying cable modemtermination system preferences for certain parameters of cable modemchannel assignment over other parameters, wherein the preferencesinclude two or more of: a number of upstream channels, number ofdownstream channels, spacing between channels, whether all channelsshould be centered within a predetermined range, or whether somechannels can be spaced so that they do not fall within a particularrange; receiving a plurality of profiles from a single cable modemduring bootup that each indicate a different channel bonding arrangementfor that single cable modem; comparing the plurality of profilesassociated with the single cable modem to the specified cable modemtermination system preferences; selecting one of the plurality ofprofiles based on the specified cable modem termination systempreferences for certain parameters over other parameters; assigningchannels for communication with the single cable modem based on theselected profile; and transmitting a message containing an instructionto the single cable modem based on the selected profile instructing thesingle cable modem how to tune its circuitry based on the assignedchannels.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the received profilecomprises a receive channel profile.
 3. The method of claim 1 whereinthe received profile comprises a transmit channel profile.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein the received profile comprises a fixed receivechannel configuration profile.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thespecified preferences are indicated by means of integer weightingpriorities.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein personnel selects genericpreferred configuration attributes that are translated into receivechannel profile attributes.